Air cool cushion



g 1964 s. L. DENNISON ETAL 3,146,030

AIR COOL CUSHION 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 17, 1962 FIG.2.

. INVENIORS Soul Dennison Moses Seltzer Samuel M. Seltzerfi FIG LeonardS. Denn ison F\M% ATTORNEYS Aug. 25, 1964 s. DENNISON ETAL 3,146,030

AIR COOL CUSHION Filed Aug. 17, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENIORS SaulDennison Y Moses Seltzer Samuel M. Seltzer8 Leonard S.Denn|son FIG.6.WWW

Aug-25,1964 s. L. DENNISON ETAL I 3,146,030

AIR cobL CUSHION Filed Aug. 17, 1962 5 Sheets-She t 5 INVENTORS SaulDennison Moses Seltzer Samuel M. seltzgra Leonard S. Dennlson ATTORNEYSUnited States Patent 3,146,030 AIR COOL CUSHION Saul L. Dennison, WestOrange, N.J., Moses Seltzer, New York, N.Y., and Samuel M. Seltzer,Short Hills, and Leonard S. Dennison, Maplewood, N.J., assignors toAllison Corporation, Hillside, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey FiledAug. 17, 1962, Ser. No. 217,639 4 Claims. (Cl. 27-453) The presentinvention relates to air cool cushion and more particularly refers to aninner filler for such cushion particularly adaptable for automotive use,although it will be understood that it may be used quite generally as anair cool inner cushion, pillow or the like.

Supporting cushions having air cooling features have been heretoforeproposed for vehicular use involving coil springs, but although they"involve and require interlocking of the wires and/or criss-crossing ofthe wires, with coils perpendicular to one another and crossing eachother, the same have been unsatisfactory in that the use of anunrestrained coil permits the convolutions of the helix to tend to bulgeout of alinement with the axis of the helix, and only the fabric casingof the cushion has any confining influence on this tendencny of theconvolutions due to their resilient expansive action in getting out ofline, unduly expanding where the greatest incumbent weight devolves andcrowding together in areas of little superimposed weight, so that,generally, such coils are unsatisfactory, the answer having been soughtin the interlocking and crisscrossing of the coils.

However, this has not met the problem in that the 7 crossing coils donot, per se, give shape to a cushion, pillow or the like.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a member inassociation with the elastic helix which will at once govern the shapeof the cushion and impose a restraint on the coils, preventing bulgingout locally of coils and preventing generally the misalinement of thecoils throughout the entire helix and its various sections; all to theend that cushions of preconceived shapes may be manufactured strictlyaccording to plan, and in use, will maintain the originally impartedshape characteristics.

Another object of the invention is to provide in conjuncton with aresilient helix a shaping member or rod so as to follow any desiredhelical pattern and which will possess mechanical qualities that willretain the same in the shape to which bended, such member being passedthrough the convolutions of the helix to hold the same to line and toshape pattern.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel form ofcushion in which more elfective support of the incumbent person isrealized, which will also counteract blockading of any of the airpassages through the cushion and contribute to greater uniformity ofcooling action throughout the length and breadth of the cushion.

Other objects of the invention are to stabilize the helical coils in theinner unit of an air cool cushion, anchor the coils to predeterminedform pattern, to eliminate the necessity of interlocking of the coilsand crisscrossing of the same although such interlocking and/ orcrisscrossing may be employed with the invention in cases where same maybe desired, to prevent the coils running haphazard in undesired localdirections; and the invention also contemplates the use of stabilizingbraces for such shaping member which will also lend a contributinginfluence to the maintenance of the cushion shape and configuration.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the in-' vention will bemore fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointedout in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or correspondingparts throughout the several views:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view, with parts of the fabric casing broken away toreveal the inner filler, of a combined seat and back cushion constructedin accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 inFIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary plan view of a modified form of fillerconstruction with the upper fabric member removed for clarity.

FIGURE 4 is a similar view showing a further modification.

FIGURE 5 is also a fragmentary plan view of the seat and back cushionwith the inner filler revealed in the seat portion in which the variousspaced sections of the helix are disclosed in circular or volute formrather than in the rectangular form shown in FIGURES 14.

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 showing a further modification.

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of a filler of a rectangular configuration inwhich some of the convolutions of adjacent coils interlock at strategicplaces and some do not interlock where interlocking may not be necessaryor desirable.

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of a further modified form in which the shapingmembers are individual rectangles of progressively greater areas fromthe center outward, being held together by intersecting braces.

FIGURE 9 is a similar view in which the shaping members are circles ofvarying diameters.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary cross section through a portion of a fillerin which the convolutions are flattened or elliptical to achieveinterlocking.

Referring more particularly to the drawings and for the present toFIGURES 1 and 2, 10 designates an air cool seat cushion and 11 a backcushion or rest, both having inner fillers of similar constructions sothat a description of one will suffice for both.

12 and 13 designate, respectively, a bottom fabric member and an upperfabric member which are foram inous or reticulated, or otherwise porous,for the free circulation of air therethrough, these members 12 and 13being secured together along their edges to constitute a casing forcontaining the inner filler unit of the invention.

The back cushion 11 comprises similar rear and front porous fabricmembers 14 and 15. A hinge joint 16 connects the seat and back cushionmembers 10 and 11 in a well known manner.

The inner filler unit is comprised generally of a shaping member and aspring helix.

In that form of the invention illustrated in FIGURES l and 2, theshaping member is a wire rod bent to provide side sections 17 and 18,and intermediate sections 19, 26, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25, these severalsections being substantially parallel in the plane of the cushion andspaced apart. The shaping member or rod also includes a front edgesection 26 and a rear edge section 27 bent, respectively, from the frontend of the side section 17 and the rear end of the side section 18. Theterminal ends 28 and 29 of the shaping rod or member are incurvedrespectively to the side sections 18 and 17. The members 26 and 27 arealso substantially parallel to one another and are spaced forwardly andrearwardly respectively from connecting rear and front elbows 30 and 31which alternate from rear to front in connecting the various parallelmembers 17-25, so that a single strand of 3 wire rod or the like mayfollow through in a continuous manner the pattern as illustrated inFIGURE 1.

A resilient wire helix surrounds the shaping wire rod, preferably fromend-to-end, and preferably in a continuous winding of a. single finewire, and includes sections similar to those of the shaping wire rod. Inother words, coil side sections 32 and 33 surround the side sections 17and 18 of the shaping wire rod, while intermediate helical sections 34,35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and 40 surround the intermediate shaping wire rodsections 19-25, inclusive. Rear and front helical connecting elbows 41and 42 are wound about the connecting elbows 3t) and 31 of the shapingwire rod. The helix also includes front and rear edge sections 43 and 44wound about the front and rear edge sections 26 and 27 of the shapingwire rod.

The terminal ends of the helix are also preferably arranged at incurvedterminal ends 28 and 29 of the shaping wire rod, the arrangement beingthat the terminal convolutions of the helix will abut the front and rearoutermost elbows 31 and 30.

Referring more particularly to FIGURE 3, a similar arrangement isillustrated with the following exceptions:

The terminal ends 28 and 29 are arranged at the right-hand front cornerand left-hand rear corner of the seat cushion, and the members 26 and 27are omitted.

In the second place, one or more braces, herein shown to be three innumber, 45, 46 and 47, are disposed laterally of the seat and crosswiseof the intermediate and side sections 1725, inclusive, to whichpreferably each of said cross braces are welded or otherwise secured atthe cross-over points. The front and rear braces 46, 47 make it possibleto dispense with the members 26 and 27. These cross braces 45, 46 and 47entrain and localize the incident convolutions of the resilient helix toprevent spread of the helix to opposite sides of the braces 45, 46 and47. The terminal end portions 48 and 49 of the helix may be extendedfrom the terminal ends 23 and 29 of the shaping member across the gaptherefrom to the adjacent convolutions of the helix or to the braces 46and 47, with either of which such end the terminal end portions of thehelix 48 and 49 may be intertwined.

Referring more particularly to FIGURE 4, the seat construction is asshown in FIGURE 1, in which a single central brace 45 is crosswise ofthe various sections of the shaping member being welded to such sectionspreferably at all of the cross-over points. In this instance only thesingle brace 45 is necessary in that the front and rear edge sections 26and 27 of the shaping member are included.

Referring more particularly to FIGURE 5, the sections of the shapingmember instead of being parallel are circular or volute. In other words,these sections 50, 51, 52, 53 and 54 are spaced apart radially and arewound into a substantially flat coil. The terminal end 55 of theoutermost section 50 may be entrained with the helical section 56 of thehelix at a point where the short lengths of the helical sections ofmembers 50 and 51 meet and are enmeshed.

Referring more particularly to FIGURE 6, a similar volute coilarrangement is illustrated in which diametrical braces 57 and 58 crossand are welded or otherwise fixed to incident portions of the shapingmember. These braces 57 and 58 may also be welded to one another at thecentral cross-over point 59.

The modification in FIGURE 7 shows progressively expanding square-likefigures having a central origin at an end 60 of the wire or othershaping rod and an outer terminus at the other end 61 of the rod afterforming spaced side sections 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 and 67, 68, 69, 70 and71, 72, 73, 74 and 75, 76, 77, 78. In this FIG- URE 7 some of theconvolutions are overlapped or interlocked as indicated at 79, whileother side by side sections of the convolutions are free of one anotherand if desired spaced apart laterally as illustrated.

In FIGURE 8 the shaping member is constituted of individual rectangles80, 81, 82 and 83 connected and held spaced apart by the cross braces84, 85 arranged diagonally of the squares and aflixed, as by welding orotherwise, to corner portions of the several rectangular frames. Thehelix is indicated at 86, it being understood that the helix will becontinued in separate sections about each frame 80, 81, 82 and 83.

In FIGURE 9 the frames are individual circles 87, 88, 89, of shapingwires of progressively greater diameter from the inside out, beingconnected together by the diametric braces 91, 92 welded to one anotherat the central cross-over point 93 and to the various circular frames atthe two diametrically opposed cross-over points )4, 95. The helix 96 isin a number of separate circular sections corresponding in number to thenumber of the frames 87, 83, 89 and 90, it being understood that as manyof the frames as desired may be used in this and other modifications.

FIGURE 10, which shows a section on the line 10 1% of FIGURE 7,illustrates one method by which adjacent convolutions of the helix maybe overlapped or interlocked, that is by flattening the convolutions outof round whereby they may become elliptical, square or of other shapewith portions overlapped at 79.

The various braces may also be constituted of wire of appropriate gauge.The purpose of these various braces is to act as supporting members toprevent the heavy gauge wire shaping member from shifting its positionand to give radial support to the over-all frame made up of the shapingmember in all its sections and braces.

It will be noted that the helix is of thin wire coiled in the shape of aloosely wound spring. Through this coil we have the heavier wire whichcreates the shape of the pillow or cushion.

It is contemplated that additional welded supports, braces or bracketsmay be utilized to retain shape as required.

The helix is a resilient wire or filament of small gauge wound into opencoils having a coarse lead in relatively small diameter helices. Thewire of the helix is also relatively stiff to prevent collapse underincumbent weight but possessing sufficient elasticity to admit of beingstressed under elastic deformation to store therein energy Well beyondan elastic limit to enable the helix to recover its normalconfigurations as the deforming forces or strain are removed.

The shaping member will be of a gauge less than the diameter of theconvolutions of the helix to permit deformation of the convolutionswithout interference from the shaping member. The coiled form of thehelix is a configuration which in itself adds to the elasticity of theelastic fine wire from which the helix is formed. The arrangement issuch that the weight of an occupant of the seat cushion will deformlocally the convolutions of the helix, which will be free for suchdeformation and stressing but will be held to alinement both in thedeforming and recovery movements by the shaping member.

The helix and shaping member will both possess physical properties andalso mechanical properties of ductility, maleability, tensile strengthand impact toughness which will conform to the pattern described to theend that an inner core or filler may be of long life and fulfill itsfunction in supporting the incumbent weight without collapsing and withthe characteristic of maintaining ventilating channels throughout thecushion below the person of the occupant.

The inner filler of this invention eliminates problems of fabricationand assembly, leaving the coils free to fiatten and to expand andcontract in response to stress conditions thereon. The external diameterof the shaping wire may be substantially less than the internal diameteror radius of the convolutions of the helix. The various adjacentsections of the helix may be spaced apart from one another a distance toavoid lateral overlapping or interlocking, or as shown in FIGURE 7 asingle filler may have some interlocking and some non-interlockingsections of the helix.

Although We have disclosed herein the best forms of the invention knownto us at this time, we reserve the right to all such modifications andchanges as may come within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A seat cushion core comprising (a) a substantially rigid formingmember, and

(b) a coil of resilient wire wound about the forming member,

(0) said forming member being in substantially rigid sections,

(d) said sections spaced apart,

(e) substantially rigid means for connecting said sections in saidspaced-apart relations,

(i) said coil of resilient wire divided into a plurality of helices,

(g) one helix surrounding each rigid forming member section,

(h) each said section having an external diameter less than the internaldiameter of its helix (1) so that the helix is permitted a lateral freemovement relatively to its said section in addition to a fiatteningmovement of the helix incident to superposition of load,

(j) the external diameter of the helices in relation to the spacingbetween adjacent sections being such as to restrain the lateral movementof the helices short of a point Where the helices can overlap or cross.

2. A seat cushion core as claimed in claim 1 in which said helices aredisposed in substantially concentric tiers about substantiallyconcentric sections of the forming member with the helices having freelateral movement in a radial sense relatively to the sections and to oneanother.

3. A seat cushion core as claimed in claim 1 in which the forming memberis in the general configuration of a polygon with sections thereofsubstantially parallel, and the helices in right lines.

4. A seat cushion core as claimed in claim 1 in which said meanscomprises elbows connecting the adjacent sections of the forming member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,911,276 Harley May 30, 1933 2,801,679 Crane Aug. 6, 1957 3,063,753Mitchell Nov. 13, 1962

1. A SEAT CUSHION CORE COMPRISING (A) A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID FORMINGMEMBER, AND (B) A COIL OF RESILIENT WIRE WOUND ABOUT THE FORMING MEMBER,(C) SAID FORMING MEMBER BEING IN SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID SECTIONS, (D) SAIDSECTIONS SPACED APART, (E) SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAIDSECTIONS IN SAID SPACED-APART RELATIONS, (F) SAID COIL OF RESILIENT WIREDIVIDED INTO A PLURALITY OF HELICES, (G) ONE HELIX SURROUNDING EACHRIGID FORMING MEMBER SECTION, (H) EACH SAID SECTION HAVING AN EXTERNALDIAMETER LESS THAN THE INTERNAL DIAMETER OF ITS HELIX (I) SO THAT THEHELIX IS PERMITTED A LATERAL FREE MOVEMENT RELATIVELY TO ITS SAIDSECTION IN ADDITION TO A FLATTENING MOVEMENT OF THE HELIX INCIDENT TOSUPERPOSITION OF LOAD, (J) THE EXTERNAL DIAMETER OF THE HELICES INRELATION TO THE SPACING BETWEEN ADJACENT SECTIONS BEING SUCH AS TORESTRAIN THE LATERAL MOVEMENT OF THE HELICES SHORT OF A POINT WHERE THEHELICES CAN OVERLAP OR CROSS.